WWE Raw: Results, Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for January 15

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Tony Nese (w/ Enzo Amore) vs. Cedric Alexander (w/ Goldust)

Result: Cedric Alexander defeated Tony Nese via pinfall

Rating: 2.0 out of 5 stars

Not exactly sure what makes Tony Abs the garlic, but I don’t always understand Enzo to begin with. Maybe it’s because his numerous abs look like cloves of garlic?

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/953081335639195649

Anyway, Alexander and Goldust is still a thing, so out comes the Bizarre One to make movie references. The irony of “straight to DVD” being used as an insult while any WWE personality not named John Cena who makes movies sees that exact release isn’t lost on me.

When the match got under way, it sadly wasn’t anywhere near as good as it could have been. Sometimes I feel like I’m the last Tony Nese fan on the planet, and while I’m not changing my mind based on this one, he’s likely not winning anyone over with it. I don’t know if it’s sloppiness, a lack of charisma, or what, but Nese doesn’t click with the majority of the WWE Universe.

There were definitely brief flashes of brilliance in here from Alexander – his agility is almost unparalleled – and the crowd responded accordingly. But too much of this one was fought in silence, which is the biggest problem with the cruiserweight division. The Lumbar Check always gets a good pop – and kudos to Nese for selling it like a champ – but is that enough to carry a division? One move from one guy? With three hours of Raw every week, there’s no room for a second 205 Live segment to build up other guys? Why are we only seeing Gran Metalik hanging out in catering with Curt Hawkins?